How are homes heated in Leicester, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Leicester, MA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Leicester, used by 58.6% (±7.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

6.4% heat with utility gas.

17.3% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 6.4% (±3.0 points)
Electricity: 17.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 58.6%

Heating fuel in Leicester

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Leicester	Worcester County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	6.4% (±3.0 points)	32.4%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	58.6% (±7.3 points)	37.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	17.3% (±5.4 points)	19.6%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	9.6% (±5.5 points)	5.6%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	5.0% (±3.2 points)	2.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	3.1% (±2.1 points)	1.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.5%	0.7%	1.2%

The survey asks which fuel is used most to heat the home, so a home with a heat pump and an oil backup is counted once, under the one it uses most.

In Leicester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Worcester County (37.9%).

It is also higher than in Massachusetts (22.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (3.9%).

In Leicester, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Worcester County (19.6%).

It is not measurably different from Massachusetts (18.6%).

It is lower than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Leicester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Leicester
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Leicester	—	17.3% (±5.4 points)	—
Spencer	4.1 mi	28.6% (±6.5 points)	Higher
Spencer (community)	4.2 mi	42.5% (±9.7 points)	Higher
Auburn	4.4 mi	17.0% (±3.0 points)	Not measurably different
Paxton	5.3 mi	11.9% (±8.6 points)	Not measurably different
Worcester	5.8 mi	28.7% (±1.4 points)	Higher
East Brookfield	6.8 mi	6.5% (±4.3 points)	Lower
East Brookfield (community)	7.2 mi	7.1% (±5.8 points)	Lower
Millbury	7.6 mi	16.7% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: East Brookfield, MA (6.5%), East Brookfield (community), MA (7.1%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Spencer, MA (28.6%), Spencer (community), MA (42.5%), Worcester, MA (28.7%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes heated by fuel oil across Worcester County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
17	Holden	60.7% (±4.3 points)
18	Hardwick	60.6% (±8.0 points)
19	Oakham	60.0% (±5.8 points)
20	Douglas	59.4% (±7.4 points)
21	Sturbridge	59.0% (±5.1 points)
22	Lancaster	58.7% (±9.3 points)
23	Leicester	58.6% (±7.3 points)
24	Charlton	58.4% (±6.3 points)
25	Winchendon	57.7% (±5.3 points)
26	Oxford	57.5% (±6.3 points)
27	Ashburnham	57.3% (±9.1 points)
28	Brookfield	57.2% (±7.6 points)
29	Barre	56.6% (±10.2 points)

Showing 13 of 60 places in Worcester County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Leicester

What is the most common way to heat a home in Leicester?

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Leicester, used by 58.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Leicester heat with oil?

58.6% (±7.3 points) of occupied homes in Leicester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Leicester have electric heat?

17.3% (±5.4 points) of occupied homes in Leicester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Leicester town, Worcester County, Massachusetts

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Leicester town, Worcester County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:34795, in state:25 county:027).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0063PE, DP04_0063PM, DP04_0066PE, DP04_0066PM, DP04_0065PE, DP04_0065PM, DP04_0064PE, DP04_0064PM, DP04_0068PE, DP04_0068PM, DP04_0069PE, DP04_0069PM, DP04_0067PE, DP04_0067PM, DP04_0070PE, DP04_0070PM, DP04_0071PE, DP04_0071PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.